TALLADEGA, Alabama -- Actor Lamman Rucker spoke of history and responsibility when he addressed students at Talladega College this morning.

Rucker, known for his roles in Tyler Perry’s sitcom “Meet The Browns” and film “Why Did I Get Married?,” served as speaker the school’s convocation ceremony ringing in the new school year.

“There’s always opportunity to create history as we live it, but remember that you’re tied to an existing history and an existing legacy. We need to do our part maintain the standard,” he said prior to his speech.

Rucker, who holds a master’s degree in education, encouraged students to maintain self-determination and confidence throughout their undergraduate careers. He advised students to have fun but make good grades.

“It’s so simple, but there’s a duality,” he said. “There’s a way to do that intelligently, safely, responsibly and with discipline.”

He gave the audience a version of his personal code, which includes having confidence, taking advantage and creating opportunities, having discipline and striving for excellence.

“Always do your best, no matter where you are. Have courage, no matter what you are doing,” he told students.

Rucker, who serves as a spokesman for several non-profit organizations, including BET’s Rap-It-Up and the Magic Johnson Foundation, tries to use his platform to give back to the community.

“Artistry has always been aligned with activism,” he said. “The artists that I’ve always looked up to — the Paul Robesons, the Ossie Davises and Harry Belafonte — have always fused their scholarship with their artistic capacity and the responsibility they felt they had to uplift other people.”

This year’s convocation marks the schools 145th year and also the largest freshman class in the school’s history with 583 students, according to Dr. Billy C. Hawkins, Talladega College president.

Hawkins also said during his convocation speech that enrollment has increased by 71.4 percent since last fall, with the entire student body numbering at 1202.

Larry Barton, mayor of Talladega, presented Rucker with a key to the city during the ceremony.

“Talladega is fortunate to be the home of Talladega College,” he said. “To start the year off with this kind of speaker is astronomical.”